FORMER OBAMA Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said in 2008, "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. ... And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before."

Politicians and their media sympathizers who are on the anti-gun bandwagon today have this mindset. This is not about preventing insane mass shootings or even general crime. It is an opportunity to further a long-term agenda of undermining our Constitution and controlling our society.

For those who do not see this trend, look at their distorted interpretation of the Interstate Commerce Clause, massive federal departments and regulations, increasing government control of health care, welfare programs and excessive unemployment benefits that lead to dependency, tax-and-spend "vote-buying," radical environmentalism, and other attacks on private property rights and liberty.

How do guns relate?

A regime cannot be fully authoritarian toward a citizenry that has the ultimate power.

James Simon's letter on Dec. 30 mentioned some 20th century examples of outlawing guns, notably Nazi Germany in 1938 after first requiring registration.

Consider America in 1775 when troops went to confiscate guns at Lexington and Concord. This resulted in a battle, a Declaration of Independence, war and ultimately our Constitution including the Bill of Rights. These were 10 amendments that the states required the new Congress take up as a condition of their ratification. They affirm individual, inalienable rights; meaning not granted by government and thus not removable by Ggovernment. The Constitution is about the people controlling the government. The Second Amendment affirming our right to keep and bear arms was about defense against tyranny, not about hunting or target shooting. It represents a general right of self-protection.

Let us consider protection from criminals. They will always exist but they fear armed victims. Think passive crime-control at the minimum.

Citizens are entitled to own suitable weapons for protection including semiautomatics (one bullet per trigger pull) with high ammunition capacity. This 100-year-old auto-loading technology in rifles, shotguns and handguns is favored by many hunters and sport shooters. Low cartridge capacity may work for them, but for defense, high capacity (more than 10 rounds) is important. Most shots miss. Six-shot revolvers cannot compete against what a criminal may have. Military-style rifles are a good option for home defense. These are not fully automatic machine guns like the military has. The term "assault weapon" was invented by anti-gunners to frighten the public.

Most gun restrictions do not relate to Californians because we already have stringent laws.

Some are probably unconstitutional, such as no sales of 11-plus capacity magazines, certain military-style rifle features, 10-day wait for purchases, and we are one of six states that do not allow concealed carry in all cities and counties (permits are up to police chiefs and sheriffs). Street criminals love that one, as they do our many "gun-free zones" ("protection-free zones?")

California requires all private and gun show sales go through licensed dealers. Background checks are required but they are not "instant" as in other states.

In 2014 we will have to register all long guns — another intrusion into the lives of only the law-abiding. There is only one reason why a government would want a list of gun owners and what they have. Are we headed for tyranny? Some think we have it today but it is probably a matter of degree. California leads the way down a path to an end-game that is at best misguided and, at worst, devious.

John Neuenburg of San Rafael is a concerned citizen, Marin native, former competitive shooter, and a believer in the Constitution of the United States.